BSB Series Preview: Nebraska at USC

Nebraska baseball senior outfielder Riley Silva

Nebraska baseball swept its second consecutive midweek non-conference series this week and now heads back into Big Ten play.

The Huskers (9-11, 1-5 Big Ten) got past struggling program Pepperdine on Tuesday, 9-6, and Wednesday, 11-4, to drop the Waves' record to 4-16 overall. Those back-to-back wins came one week after Nebraska toppled Wichita State on the prior Tuesday and Wednesday – pushing the Shockers down to a 6-11 record, and they now sit at 7-13 overall.

Whether or not the latest mini midweek momentum swing against a lower-quality opponent will pay off for Nebraska in conference play remains to be seen.

The two wins over Wichita State didn't parlay into any success against UCLA last weekend during a sweep at the hands of the Bruins (16-4, 5-1). Now, the Huskers will be pitted against USC (12-8, 2-4) looking to find some sort of answers in-conference this weekend.

Here is a look at the three-game set as Nebraska gears up for a battle against its third consecutive West Coast team and another battle with an above-.500 club on the road.

Nebraska @ USC: How to watch, stream, listen

FRIDAY

Time: 8:30 p.m. CT

Pitching: LHP WillWalsh (2-3, 3.42 ERA) vs. LHP Caden Hunter (3-1, 2.77 ERA)

TV/Streaming: FS1

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

**********

SATURDAY

Time: 4 p.m. CT

Pitching: RHP TyHorn (0-3, 7.54 ERA) vs. RHP Caden Aoki (2-1, 4.23 ERA)

TV/Streaming: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

**********

SUNDAY

Time: 2 p.m. CT

Pitching: LHP JacksonBrockett (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. RHP Grant Govel (1-2, 8.16 ERA)

TV/Streaming: B1G+

Radio: Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App

>> All games will be played at Great Park in Irvine, Calif.

Follow the games

>> Friday's series opener can be seen on FS1 with J.B. Long and Scott Pose on the call, while Saturday and Sunday's games can be seen on B1G+.

>> Fans can also listen to Ben McLaughlin and Nick Handley call the action this weekend on the Huskers Radio Network.

>> Every game this season can be heard for free on Huskers.com and the Official Nebraska Huskers App for both iOS and android devices.

Nebraska vs. USC: Series History

>> Through four all-time meetings, the Huskers and Trojans are deadlocked at two victories each.

>> Nebraska and USC have played single games in the 1979, 1984, 2005 and 2013 seasons throughout their all-time series

>> The Big Red picked up wins of 6-3 and 9-6 in 1979 and 1984, while USC evened the series with victories of 5-4 and 4-3 in 2005 and 2013.

Nebraska baseball junior outfielder Robby Bolin

Nebraska Game Notes

Midweek Starters

>> WillWalsh gets the nod on Friday night for the second consecutive series this season. The southpaw holds a 2-3 record on the season with a 3.42 ERA, 29 punchouts and opposing batting average of .194 in 26.1 innings.

>> TyHorn is set to take the mound in game two for the Huskers this weekend. Horn is 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22.2 innings of work.

>> Senior southpaw JacksonBrockett is scheduled to start the series finale, holding an 0-1 record with a 4.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in five appearances this season, including starts against Grand Canyon, Kansas State, Washington and UCLA.

Lucky Number 6

>> Nebraska is 112-23 under head coach WillBolt when scoring at least six runs.

>> The Big Red have scored six-plus runs in eight of the nine victories this season, defeating No. 16 Vanderbilt (6-4), San Diego State (13-0), Louisiana (6-1), Washington (6-2), Wichita State (10-1) and Pepperdine (9-6, 11-4).

>> The Husker offense reached the six-run mark 34 times last season, compiling a 28-6 record.

>> Nebraska scored six-plus runs in 33 contests (26-7) in 2023 after tallying at least six runs 23 times (19-4) in 2022, 28 times (26-2) in 2021 and seven times (5-2) in 2020.

Nebraska baseball senior infielder Tyler Stone

Nebraska baseball tallies its first strikeout-free game since 2014

>> With an 11-4 win at Pepperdine on Wednesday, the Husker offense posted its first strikeout-free game since a 5-3 win vs. UNLV on March 30, 2014.

>> The Huskers scored 11 runs on 11-of-35 hitting (.314) with a double, three homers and 10 RBI. The NU hitters drew seven walks and were plunked two times.

>> The Husker offense hasn't struck out in the last 17 innings of action since the Big Red went down on strikeouts twice in the first inning of Tuesday's midweek contest at Pepperdine.

Stone heating up on the West Coast

>> TylerStone has been swinging a hot bat since the Huskers began their 11-day stay on the west coast last weekend at UCLA.

>> In Nebraska's last five games, Stone has posted team-high totals of seven hits, three doubles, two homers and six RBI while posting the fourth-best batting average of .368 in the five-game span.

>> On the season, Stone is batting .265 with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored after beginning the west coast trip hitting 2-for-15 (.133) on the season.

Bottom-third in lineup producing, sparking Husker offense

>> The Husker offense saw a boost in its production from the bottom of the lineup in each of the Big Red's two wins at Pepperdine in midweek action.

>> Husker hitters in the bottom-third of the lineup combined to hit 10-of-21 (.476) with nine runs scored and five RBI in the two-game sweep of Pepperdine in Malibu on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Swansen nearing all-time HR list

>> With 29 career homers in his time at Nebraska, GabeSwansen needs six more homers in 2025 to reach the top 10 in career home runs by a Husker.

>> In his time in Lincoln, Swansen has hit .268 at the plate with 23 doubles, 29 home runs, 99 RBI and 73 runs scored in 123 career games.

>> The Johnston, Iowa, native paced the Husker offense in the postseason last year, hitting .500 (19-of-38) with six doubles, seven homers, 16 RBI and 10 runs scored in NU’s nine postseason games in the Big Ten Tournament and Stillwater Regional.

Top Bats in Husker Lineup

>> DevinNunez is slashing .357/.400/.518 with three homers, 12 RBI and nine runs scored in 16 games, including 12 starts this season.

>> CaydenBrumbaugh has scored a team-high 15 runs and is batting .313 with a team-high seven multi-hit contests this season.

>> DylanCarey is hitting .270 with a team-leading five doubles, four home runs and 17 RBI on the season, while TylerStone is swinging at a .265 hitting clip with four doubles, two homers and seven runs driven in.

>> RobbyBolin and RileySilva have split time in the lineup and outfield this season. Bolin is batting .346 with a double, four RBI and six runs scored, followed by Silva hitting .321 with three BRI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases.

>> WillJesske holds a .270 batting average with three doubles and a triple, and CaseSanderson is fourth on the team with three multi-hit performances on the year.

>> JoshuaOverbeek has recorded 10 hits, including three doubles and a triple, and scored nine times, and CaelFrost has drawn a team-high 13 walks and is second on the team with 12 runs scored.

Bullpen Breakdown

>> LukeBroderick has appeared in six games for the NU bullpen, picking up saves against No. 16 Vanderbilt, Washington, Wichita State and Pepperdine.

>> DrewChristo and CalebClark have appeared in a team-high eight relief appearances on the season.

>> JalenWorthley is second on the team with seven appearances and has posted a 1-0 record, while CaseyDaiss has dealt 4.2 scoreless frames across a trio of appearances on the year.

>> Freshmen PryceBender, ColinNowaczyk, GavinBlachowicz and BlakeEncarnacion have combined to allow eight runs in 22.2 innings in their debut season at Nebraska.

>> GrantCleavinger and RyanHarrahill have each taken the mound five times for the NU pitching staff this season, combining for nine strikeouts in 8.1 innings.

All stats & info provided by Nebraska Athletics

Topics

BSB Series Preview: Nebraska at UCLA

Nebraska baseball sophomore utility player Max Buettenback Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics Nebraska baseball finally got itself back on track over the past week as head coach Will Bolt and Co. ...
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
Nebraska baseball falls in final game against UCLA 5-3 to suffer sweep

Nebraska faced UCLA in its final clash of the series. Though the Huskers started with a 3-0 lead, they allowed five unanswered, leading to a 5-3 loss.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Nebraska falls to UCLA 5-2

Nebraska opened up its three-game series with UCLA Friday night. Though it rallied after a 2-0 deficit, the Huskers fell in the end to the Bruins 5-2.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Nebraska to host rising running back

Nebraska Football is set to get a visit from 2026 running back Jamal Rule. He will visit Nebraska on April 29.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Nebraska softball drops series to Ohio State following 12-6 Sunday defeat

Nebraska concluded its three-game series with Ohio State on Sunday. The Huskers struggled once again with a Buckeyes lead, resulting in a 12-6 loss.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Nebraska fans react to 'the hidden ball trick'

The Nebraska Cornhuskers made headlines on Wednesday evening after the team pulled off one of the rarest plays in baseball.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Nebraska baseball snaps three-game skid with 9-6 bounce-back win over Pepperdine

The Huskers continued their California trip by traveling to Malibu to face Pepperdine. Nebraska bounced back from the UCLA sweep, grabbing a 9-6 win.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Iowa visits Nebraska following Williams' 43-point game

Iowa Hawkeyes (15-15, 6-13 Big Ten) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (17-13, 7-12 Big Ten) Lincoln, Nebraska; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cornhuskers -6.5; over/under is 154.5 BOTTOM ...
ABC News - Mar. 9
Nebraska softball holds off Ohio State to get 9-5 Friday night conference win

The Huskers opened up Big Ten play with Ohio State on Friday night. Off three home runs and a nail-biting ninth inning, Nebraska snatched the 9-5 win.
Yahoo Sports - 6d

More from Yahoo Sports

Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in NCAA Tournament first round

It's Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in the first round of March Madness. Follow for scores, NCAA Tournament updates from the game.
Yahoo Sports - 33m
Viktor Hovland contending at the Valspar Championship after (another) coaching change

Two weeks ago, Hovland announced a switch back to Grant Waite, insisting he's trying to "get to the bottom" of his slump.
Yahoo Sports - 36m
Auburn basketball vs Creighton: Who has edge in 2025 NCAA Tournament second round?

It’s Auburn Tigers vs. Creighton Blue Jays in the March Madness bracket. Here’s our prediction, pick for the 2025 NCAA Tournament basketball game.
Yahoo Sports - 36m
Georgia Amoore scores 34 points and Kentucky holds off charge by Liberty for 79-78 March Madness win

Georgia Amoore scored 34 points, including three free throws in the final 10 seconds for fourth-seeded Kentucky, which nearly blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead but held on for a 79-78 victory ...
Yahoo Sports - 37m
Mexican club Leon banned from FIFA Club World Cup

Club Leon from Mexico were incensed Friday after they were banned from the June-July Club World Cup in the United States for violating rules on multi-ownership, FIFA announced Friday. A FIFA ...
Yahoo Sports - 41m

BSB Series Preview: Nebraska at USC